Howard Staunton, The Chess Tournament (1852)
Game 131 of 184
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Event
London m1
Site
London
Date
1851.??.??
Round
4
White
Loewenthal, Johann Jacob
Black
Buckle, Henry Thomas
Result
0-1
- 3.Nc3 This has always been the accredited move. I am quite convinced, however, by recent experience, that interposing the Q. Kt. in similar situations is an error. The best play is to move Q. B. to Q's 2nd.
- 10.Ba3 The chief reason for interposing the Q. Kt. when the K. B. checks in these close openings, is, that after the exchange of Pieces, the Q. B. may be played to Q. R's 3rd. I believe the Bishop so played is, in three cases out of four, very badly posted; and that, after remaining inactive on that square, time is lost and difficulty experienced in bringing him again to a spot where he can be made available.
- 16…Bd5 Black evidently played thus to provoke his adversary to advance the P. to Q. B's 4th. What advantage he expected would accrue to him from the on-coming of the Pawn in question, I have not yet been able to discover.
- 18…Qg5 Here, again, I am at a loss to understand the motives of Black's play.
- 19…Qe7 Would not Q. to K. Kt.'s 6th have been stronger? If White then ventured to attack the Queen with the Q. R., by playing P. to K's 4th, Black, I believe, would have got the better game by Kt. taking K. B. P.
- 25.Rbc3 P. to Q's 5th has been suggested as a good move here. It will be found, however, upon examination, to be of no advantage to White's game,
- 28.Nd2 There is a great apparent want of purpose in the manoeuvring of both players during parts of this contest.
- 34…Qxb5 Mr. Buckle has at length acquired a superiority of position, and he conducts the remainder of the game with great ability. For the benefit of readers desirous of studying the situation at leisure, I subjoin a diagram after Black's 34th move.
- 35.Nf3 White has no good move that I can perceive at this moment.
- 41…a4 Instead of this, I should have preferred P. to K. Kt.'s 4th. Let us suppose, for example:—41. P. to K. Kt.'s 4th. 42. P. takes P. (best) 42. P. takes P. 43. P. takes P. (best) 43. Kt. takes P. And few will deny that Black has the best of the game.
- 46.d5 Was this a profound inspiration, or merely a plunge of despair? I can see no evil likely to arise to Black in taking it with the Knight. If he take with the Pawn, then, indeed, White might probably draw the game.
- 47…Ne4 This appears to be the coup juste. It threatens mate, or to win the Queen in two more moves.
- 49.Kh3 By this play, White hastens the catastrophe.